Mercedes-Benz G 580 With EQ Tech Review: The E-Wagen

It’s an icon, it’s been sought after for years, it’s even been a benchmark, and is now also available as an electric vehicle. And yeah – it can spin on the spot! The OG SUV is now electrified with the promise of tech-packed performance. Its official name is quite a mouthful – Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Tech. Yeah, I think people are just going to call it the EQG – just like its concept was named. Kinda easier and more sensible too, no? But trust the Germans to overcomplicate in an attempt to apparently simplify!  I first drove the G580 in Los Angeles a few months ago, and showed you that car.

Mercedes-Benz G 580 With EQ Tech Review: Design

The Indian spec is not very much different, if anything we get the Edition One variant – which basically is really fully loaded. At 3 crores it had better be, right? 

When it comes to the G-Wagen, it's been this really simplistic, functional design, but over the years, it's become desirable and iconic. People love it because of the way it looks. 
And of course, on the electric version, it had to be carried over. So, if you look at it in a second, you know it's the G-Wagen, or in this case, the E-Wagen. But what I like is that that part hasn't been exaggerated. You get the same chunky look. You've even got a very nice rugged-looking front grille, the big Mercedes logo, nice chunky bumpers, great approach-departure angle, the round headlights, which are unmistakable, and then, of course, this element, the indicator sitting on that fender, all of that straightway tells you that this is the G before it tells you that it's the EQ version. What is nice, is the colour! This particular one is very EQ. They call it the South Seas Blue Magno, quite a mouthful. And the other colours are a bit boring. There's a black, there's a grey, and there's two different shades of white.

So yeah I am going to just start calling it the E-Wagen! The Edition One has a decorative inlay on this side moulding, a nice pattern with white lines with a blue line at the bottom. Edition One also gives you blue brake callipers. Looks really nice with this blue paintwork, eh?

Mercedes-Benz G 580 With EQ Tech Review: Interior

Inside though, the E-Wagen is again, very similar to the G-Wagen. Same dashboard layout, the same dual 12.3-inch screens with the new MBUX but now you get EV-specific graphics, obviously, and some very nice blue inlay in the carbon fibre and matching blue stitching. Very EQ, very cool.

The seats are nice and comfortable, and the active side bolstering is a nice touch. Makes you feel secure when the car’s turning. You can, in fact, also adjust how tight the seats should you hug you. There are 10 levels to choose from. Good feature to have especially when you drive it hard, and fast. 

Mercedes-Benz G 580 With EQ Tech Review: Performance

The numbers look good, but given the sheer size of this car, you’d think that battery would take you further, right? Well, the reason is the massive weight this beast carries. And its because they haven’t compromised on its output or performance. 

The E-Wagen is fast, and responds really well on the highway. Sharp lane changes, smooth kick downs and very good cornering ability despite its shape and height. A lot of that is to with what the co calls G-Steering – which enhances manoeuvrability.  It has four electric motors – one at each wheel, which lets it send the right amount of torque to any wheel instantly. 

As I told you in my previous review when I drove the car in the US, it doesn't have an eco mode, doesn't need one. I mean the whole idea of being electric is being eco in the first place. So, what you get instead are, when you go to the dynamic menu are Comfort, Sport, Individual, Trail and Rock. Rock, of course, is also where you can engage low range and there is a fair amount that you can do rough roading, I'd call it with the Trail mode., you get this little throaty rumble engine like rumble, which is nice, because you almost feel the vibration that accompanies it. What is even nicer, if you really want to hear it roar, put it into sport, and the acoustics get oh, so much sweeter. Here we go. Oh, yes. That is nice. It reminds you of the G 63 in a way. it makes you feel a little bit better about this fantastic commanding driving position. Otherwise, the car is doing most of the work and all you have to do is steer. It goes fast, it's smooth, it's reasonably good around the corners, handles pretty well, and the right quality is also very nice, given just what we've seen happening with the G. I think that evolution is evident on the EQ as well.

But wait is it really that capable off-road? In the dry and on the trail, in the grass and on rock – yes. In slush, well... So the car has different drive modes and there's lots you can do with the car on and off the road. But right now, I'm telling you this at a time when all of this only matters, when the car is actually moving. Currently, not quite the situation.

Don’t worry, we got the car out. With some help of course. But jokes apart, the E-Wagen drives really well. 

Mercedes-Benz G 580 With EQ Tech Review: G-Turn

And then don’t forget – it can do this. All right, the famous G turn is the big USP of this car. Very easy to activate. You need to be in rock mode, so firstly, there you go. rock and for that you have to also engage the low range which I have already done.
It's just a simple button press. and then you've got the G-Turn right here, so put the car in drive, put on G turn, it tells you, check surroundings, and then depending on which side you want to go, clockwise or anti-clockwise, you hold down that paddle I'm going to go this way. And now we go the other way. There we go.

The G-turn is possible due to those electric motors. The ones in front and back work in opposite directions to each other, allowing the car to spin on the spot. It can go up to 720 degrees. There’s also an offroad crawl function. 

Mercedes-Benz G 580 With EQ Tech Review: Verdict

So, would you buy one? Well if you’re one of the 100 people who have already booked the E-Wagen, this question isn’t for you. You folks really didn’t care how much it costs. And for those who are waiting for yours, saving those ₹3 crore seems like a no-brainer. A G Wagen that helps reduce your carbon footprint, now that’s a win-win situation. And you really won’t get anything like this in the market either.